Dual fluid pumping system



1968 c. E. JACKSON 3,405,64

I DUAL FLUID PUMPING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 22, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZNVENTOE.

CLAQK E. Ea/(sou "MM #W fir TOENEVS.

1968 c. E. JACKSON DUAL FLUID PUMPING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

Filed Aug. 22, 1966 .w R u f N e Z w f E. M ml United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fluid pumping system including a reciprocally displaceable pumping element operable within a chamber in response to fluid pressure exerted thereon and oscillator means for varying the fluid pressure acting on the pumping element including a valve operating in response to pressure changes in the fluid.

This invention relates generally to fluid pumping systems, and is directed particularly to a novel system wherein pumping motivation is achieved by the pressure pulsing of a fluid stream with corresponding response by a reciprocally displaceable pumping element. Herein the invention is concerned with improvements in the type of pumping system disclosed in the common assigned Borell application, Ser. No. 509,089, filed Nov. 22, 1965, now U. S. Patent 3,357,360 issued Dec. 12, 1967.

The present type of system is predicated generally upon maintenance of a flow of fluid which undergoes restriction by an aspirator, eductor or venturi effect to create a lower or negative pressure, and intermittently restricting or closing the fluid flow downstream of the aspirator to create a higher or positive pressure relative to atmospheric pressure, these pressures being communicated to a pumping element, e.g. diaphragm, which is deflected in response to the pressure changes to pump a second fluid stream. Thus the system may be used for proportionately delivering or mixing two fluids, such as lower quantity or delivery rate additive and a main liquid motive stream which energizes the system. The motive fluid stream, adequately pressurized in accordance with a desired pump output pressure, is discharged through an eductor, typically having a venturi-like restriction, connected via the side arm of the eductor to the motive side of a diaphragm pump chamber so that suction displacement of the diaphragm occurs in response to the eductorinduced pressure reduction. Reverse or pumping displacement of the diaphragm at predeterminable intervals is ac complished by valving intermittently restricting or closing the motive fluid flow downstream from the venturi, thus to create cycled back pressure also transmitted from the eductor to the diaphragm for its pumping actuation.

My primary object is to provide a self-contained combination of the pumping and back pressure cycling means, characterized by utilization of the energy of the so-called motive stream to produce intermittent back pressures on the eductor and to supply the pumping force for the independent secondary stream.

More specifically, the invention provides for this accomplishment by what may be termed a fluid oscillator energized by main stream pressure diflerentials resulting from the eductor effects, to reciprocally pressurize the pumping diaphragm at controllable intervals or cycle frequencies.

In its preferred form the invention employs a main stream valve-actuating oscillator diaphragm intermittently exposed at one side in accordance with the valve action the main stream outlet pressure, and at its opposite side to reduced and increased eductor pressures relative to atmospheric pressure, all in a manner such that alternating back pressure increases and reliefs caused by the oscillator diaphragm closings and openings of the valve, differentially pressurize the pumping diaphragm at corresponding frequency.

Structurally the invention contemplates a novel unitized assembly of the pump and oscillator components in a single body sectionally conforming the diaphragms and communications in operative relationships, and presenting the practical advantage of low cost manufacture without sacrifice of dependable performance.

The invention will be given fuller explanations in the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings of illustrative embodiments, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an essentially schematic illustration of the pumping system;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the unitized combination of the pump and oscillator component; and

FIGS. 3, 4 and are cross-sections taken respectively on lines 3-3, 44, and 5--5 of FIG. 2.

In reference first to the general showing of FIG. 1, the principal components of the system include a pump generally indicated at operating to displace, for ex ample, an additive liquid 11 in predeterminable and variable relation with a pressurized fluid fed to the system from line 12, operation of the pump 10 being controlled by response to the action of a mainstream back-pressure oscillator device 13. As previously indicated, the pump 10 operates in response to pressure differential transmitted from an aspirator or eductor 14 under frequency or cycling control of the oscillator 13.

In more particular reference to details, the line 12 fluid, which may be a liquid, is discharged by pump 15 under control of valve 16 through line 17 to be jetted from nozzle 18 into throat 19 so as to produce a reduced pressure or eductor effect in the space 20. The throat 19 may have essentially the illustrated venturi shape enlarging into valve chamber 21. The eductor, valve and oscillator 13 may be accommodated within a single body 22 comprising sections 23 and 24 related as later described.

The pump 10 preferably is of a diaphragm type which in the diagrammatical showing of FIG. 1 includes body sections 23a and 24a between which is clamped a flexible diaphragm 25 reciprocally displaceable between the solid and broken line positions shown in response to differential pressures communicated to one side of the diaphragm by way of passage 27 leading from the eductor chamber 20. Upon the diaphragm displacement from the broken to solid line positions, the liquid 11 is drawn through line 28 past check valve 29 into the chamber 26, and upon reverse displacement of the diaphragm the liquid is discharged past manually variable valve 30 and ball or other check valve 31 through line 32 for any desired disposition, such as ultimate admixture with the line 12 mainstream.

The present invention concerned with the cooperative relation of a pumping unit 10, such as described, with the oscillator 13 which, like the pump, is energized by the pressurized line 17 fluid so that both the pumping energy and back-pressure cycling of the pump are energized by the mainstream liquid to the exclusion of any necessary extraneous or independently energized controls. Leaving chamber 21 the main fluid stream flo'ws through pass-age 34 into chamber 35 at one side of the oscillator diaphragm 36, the flow into the chamber being intermittent and under control of valve 37 having a rod 38 connection with the diaphragm. From chamber 35 the fluid escapes through outlet 39 to the discharge line 40.

Chamber 41 at the opposite side of the diaphragm is in communication with the eductor space or chamber 20 by way of passages 42 (through the diaphragm) and 43, the communication being variably restrictable as by needle valve 44.

Leaving for later description the structural details of the FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 unitized assembly, the operation of the system may be described with reference to FIG. 1 as applied typically to the delivery of liquid hypochlorite as the number 11 liquid into swimming pool 46 in predetermined accurately meterable proportion to water being delivered to the pool by the usual circulating pump 15, ultimately through line 40.

Assuming first the valve 37 to be open and permiting relatively free flow through the outlet 39 and with the eductor communication with chamber 41 relatively restricted under control of the needle valve 44, the flow velocity through the eductor is sufliciently high to produce reduced or negative pressure communicated through passage 27 to the pumping diaphragm 25, causing the solution 11 to be drawn into chamber 26. Simultaneous communication of the reduced eductor pressure to chamber 41 causes deflection of the diaphragm 36 to close the valve 37. Thereupon the eductor pressure becomes relatively positive and to a degree at which the pump diaphragm 26 is displaced into chamber 26 to discharge the hypochlorite solution through line 32 into the pool water. Closure of the valve 37 causes the increased pressure to be transmitted to chamber 41, deflecting and restoring the diaphragm 36 to its valve-opening condition, thus completing the pumping and back-pressure cyclings of diaphragm and the valve 37. As will be understood, the cycle frequency may be predetermined by combinations of such factors as eflective diaphragm displacement volumes in relation to the pressure of the energizing main water stream, intercommunic-ating passage sizes, and particularly the degree of restriction in the eductor to chamber 41 communication by needle valve 44.

In accordance with the unitized assembly of FIGS. 2-5, it is possible to incorporate the pumping and control components in a single body structure comprising sections 23 and 24 in numbered correspondence with the showing in FIG. 1. Otherwise corresponding parts in FIGS. 2-5 are given the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1. The body sections are held together as by suitable fasteners 50 in a manner to clamp between them the diaphragms 25 and 36 which as shown in FIG. 3 may consist of defiectable areas of a single membrane or diaphragm. Body section 24 is cavitated to form the pumping chamber 26 communicating with passage 261 through its branches 261a, one end of the passage connecting with the inlet 28 and the opposite end, under control of valve 30, with the discharge 32.

The oscillator components appearing in FIG. 5 correspond with the FIG. 1 showing and hence require no further description other than to identify the communication between the eductor and pumping diaphragm in its form suited to the unitized assembly. Here the passage corresponding to 27 in FIG. 1 leads from passage 42 as a recess 52 in the diaphragm face of body section 23, this recess extending from its open end appearing in FIG. 5 to its opposite open end seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 at the side of pumping diaphragm 25 opposite chamber 26. The operation of the unitized assembly will be apparent from the foregoing description of FIG. 1, with the understanding that communication of the eductor pressure differentials to the pumping diaphragm occurs through the groove passage 52.

I claim:

1. A fluid pumping system comprising a pump having a chamber and a reciprocally displaceable pumping element in said chamber, conduit means connected to the chamber at a first side of said element for conducting fluid to and from the chamber, means forming a fluid passage containing a restricted eductor connected to said chamber at a second side of said element to cause displacement thereof in one direction in response to reduced pressure communicated by virtue of fluid flow through the eductor, and oscillator means for intermittently closing said fluid passage at the discharge side of the eductor to the extent of causing transmission intermittently of positive pressure alternating with said reduced pressure from the eductor to said chamber and resultant pumping displacement of said element in an opposite direction, said oscillator means including a valve operating in response to pressure changes of said fluid so created.

2. A pumping system according to claim 1, in which said oscillator means is in varying pressure communication with said eductor means.

3. A pumping system according to claim 1, in which said oscillator means comprises a valve operable to effect said intermittent closure of the fluid passage and a movable means for actuating the valve and responsive to said varying pressure changes of the fluid.

4. A pumping system according to claim 1, comprising a single body structure containing both said pump and oscillator means.

5. A pumping system according to claim 1, in which said pumping element is a displaceable diaphragm and said oscillator means comprises a second diaphragm responsive to said pressure changes of the fluid.

6. A pumping system according to claim 5, comprising a unit body structure having a pair of sections between which said diaphragms are confined.

7. A pumping system according to claim 1, in which said oscillator means comprises a body containing a dia phragm chamber, said means for intermittently closing the eductor discharge fluid passage comprising a diaphragm in the last mentioned chamber, and passage means for alternately communicating to the diaphragm chamber reduced and increased pressures from said eductor means to reciprocally displace the diaphragm.

8. A pumping system according to claim 7, in which said passage means includes manually controllable means for restrictedly and variably communicating said reduced and increased pressures.

9. A pumping system according to claim 7, comprising a unit body including the first mentioned body and containing said pump.

10. A'pumping system according to claim 9, in which said pumping element is a diaphragm and the unit body comprises a pair of sections between which both diaphragms are confined.

11. A pumping system according to claim 1, in which said oscillator means comprises a body containing said eductor and an oscillator chamber receiving fluid flow from the eductor, a diaphragm in the last mentioned chamber, a valve connected to the diaphragm and operable thereby to control fluid flow from the eductor into the oscillator chamber at one side of the diaphragm and thence to an outlet, and means forming a variably restrictable communication between the eductor and oscillator chamber at the opposite side of the diaphragm.

12. A pumping system according to claim 11, in combination with a receptacle receiving fluid from both of said chambers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner. 

